“Always and forever,” she finally whispers.
EIGHT
The time I became a billionaire
The empty glass of scotch sits on the table beside me.
It’s an expensive bottle, aged to perfection and gifted from a client as a thank you. Receiving gifts isn’t out of the ordinary, but at least this gift is useful, unlike the other worthless crap people think I’ll enjoy.
The bottle is half empty, sitting on the glass table of this drab hotel room. I’ve always despised airport hotels’ bland interiors and ridiculously small square footage. Sure, it’s supposed to be a place just to crash, but why not sleep in style.
You’re almost a billionaire. Make it happen.
Billionaire—the word has a delicious ring to it. The power and control lure me in with promises of a better life.
My eyes glance toward my watch to note the time. I need to leave soon to board my flight to London. I’d done this route many times, but this time it’s for good.
The last three years have been under my grandfather's watch. Everything I’ve learned is because of him.
Alfred Edwards is a mogul, yet to me, he was just the grandfather who would shower me with presents on my birthday and Christmas. Occasionally, he would visit, much to my father’s annoyance.
I barely knew the man, though he always made an effort to be friendly and ask me questions about my interests, such as sports.
Then, it all changed.
He paid me a visit one night after I’d left Samantha. It wasn’t a great night. I was alone and miserable with a job at the hospital I started to lose interest in. I’m not sure who informed him of my miseries, or maybe his timing was just right.
It was an offer I couldn’t refuse to step into his position of Chairman. At first, I declined the offer, not knowing much about business since I’d studied medicine. Yet, he offered to shadow his steps and to give as much time as needed to learn the role.
At this time, I had no idea he had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer. He hadn’t appeared sick or showed any signs of the illness.
But he knew his mortality, and he refused to give away all his hard work to money-grabbing leeches who weren’t family.
Alfred Edwards wanted his legacy to live on.
My life, from that moment, changed forever.
With this newfound power came a new existence. I thrived on money and everything it represented. I wasn’t afraid to own the boardroom nor let anyone control my actions. I’m no longer indebted to any woman. At least, none who will destroy me.
My thoughts run rampant, so I decide to get out of this hell hole and straight to the airport. It’s better to be surrounded by strangers and noise than to wallow in self-pity like I’m a fool trapped in mistakes.
JFK is busy as usual, with people running around in chaos, trying to rush to the gates to make their flight. I’m glad to have time on my hands, leisurely taking each step without the stress of the announcements blaring over the PA system.
My stay in Manhattan had been short, just a few days to tie up some loose ends before London. There was an opportunity to stay long-term in Manhattan, but I wasn’t in the mood to live on the East Coast. A part of me just wanted to be anywhere but here.
It takes a good thirty minutes to clear security, even with my business class ticket. With my passport and ticket in hand, I make my way to the gate and straight to the priority passengers’ line.
“Flight 789 to London to now boarding priority passengers. Please come forward to board the flight,” the hostess announces over the speaker.
I grab the handle of the small black carry-on suitcase beside me and form part of the short line.
London. A faraway place, but a chance to forget about my past and the nightmares which plague me. Of late, the nightmares have reoccurred almost every night. Coincidently, this only happens in Manhattan, which is odd since I’d never been here with her to be able to create any memories.
Her… I can’t even say her fucking name anymore.
The line moves quickly from checking our boarding passes to walking down the ramp to the front of the plane. I stop as some passengers make small talk with the captain and hostess.
When I’m finally at the front, I give a simply nod as the hostess eyes me like a piece of candy. She’s not bad, but I’m not in the mood. Something about this trip is bothering me, and the last thing I need is pussy.